The Holetown Festival

The first English settlers landed at what is now Holetown on the seventeenth of February 1627, and the town has marked the anniversary with a festival since 1977. It runs for about a week around the date: a street fair along the main road with craft and food stalls, a police band concert, a folk concert in the grounds of St James parish church, a road race, and a parade. It is smaller and considerably more sedate than Crop Over, aimed at families and at the parish rather than at visitors, which is much of its appeal. The monument marking the landing stands at the centre of it.

What you actually see

• The street fair - craft and food along Holetown's main road.
• The churchyard concert - folk music in the grounds of St James.
• The police band - a fixture of the week's programme.
• The landing monument - marking the 1627 arrival.

When to go

The week around the seventeenth of February. Programmes are published locally a few weeks ahead. The main street events are at weekends. It is the dry season, so weather is rarely a problem.

Honest expectations

It is a small parish festival rather than a major event, and visitors expecting Crop Over will find something much quieter. The programme varies year to year and is confirmed late. Holetown's main road closes for the street fair and traffic on the west coast backs up considerably.

Nearby

St James parish church is at the centre; the west coast beaches are alongside.